This email is being sent to PIs with open federal awards, deans, research associate deans, and unit heads whose units have federal sponsored projects.

Dear Colleagues,

While the cadence at a university always slows in the summer — and I hope you can maximize this quieter time to recharge – I wanted to provide four updates.

Comment Period Open for Updates to the Uniform Guidance

Proposed draft revisions to the Uniform Guidance were released on May 29. The Uniform Guidance governs grants and agreements across all agencies. The revisions would significantly change how federal research awards are reviewed, managed, monitored, and terminated. For example, grants could be terminated at any time without cause. Other research costs such as travel, conference participation, and page charges would be much harder to cover on grants.

The Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU) has provided a summary of changes and number of universities have created FAQs, including University of Minnesota. CSU will respond as an institution; if you’d like to contribute to that response, please complete this feedback form by July 1. If you would like to respond as a private citizen, use the proposal’s federal register link. The response deadline is July 13.

USDA Awards and Required Research Security Training

Research security training requirements from the CHIPS and Science Act signed into law in 2022 are being rolled out. All employees — faculty, scientists, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, undergraduates, and staff — who receive funding or are paid from USDA’s competitive or capacity programs must take the training as soon as possible. Prior to submitting new proposals and requests for non-competitive continuations of current awards, all training must be completed. Everyone who is required to take the training will receive frequent reminders from OVPR with instructions on how to access the training. Please email with questions.

Workday Challenges for Sponsored Projects

There are technical challenges in Workday that have created pay errors on awards and that are creating problems for timely effort certification. Human Resources is working to resolve these issues. In the case of effort certification, automated reminder messages will continue to go out, and we understand that many statements cannot be certified at this time due to errors. If your effort statement is correct, please certify. If not, please continue to hold on certification until you can confirm accuracy.

FY 27 Federal Appropriations

The federal appropriations process for science agency funding is underway, and similar to last year, there are initial signs of support for scientific research from Congress. In the last few weeks, several key funding bills have passed the House Appropriations Committee, including USDA, Defense, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Education, Homeland Security, Interior, and Transportation. The House committee has prioritized biomedical and defense research, with proposed funding remaining flat or even slightly increased for those fields. The Senate Appropriations Committee has yet to publicly release bills. The bills that have been released so far represent a starting point and will continue to evolve as they move through the process. 

Please reach out with questions, concerns or suggestions. I’ll continue to keep you updated. As always, I’m grateful for all that you do.

Best,

Cass

Cassandra Moseley, Ph.D. (she/hers)
Vice President for Research

Professor, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship
Office of the Vice President for Research